| Re: pericarditis
Have you ever had pleurisy? It is probably more common than pericarditis.
What Is Pleurisy?
Pleurisy, also called pleuritis, is an inflammation of the pleura, which is the moist, double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the rib cage. The condition can make breathing extremely painful, and sometimes it is associated with another condition called pleural effusion where excess fluid fills the area between the membrane's layers.
What Are the Symptoms of Pleurisy?
Severe, fleeting, sharp, pain in your chest, often on one side only, when breathing deeply, coughing, moving, sneezing or even talking.
Severe chest pain that goes away when you hold your breath.
When pleurisy occurs in certain locations of the lungs, the pain can be felt in other parts of the body such as the neck, shoulder or abdomen.
Rapid, shallow breathing in response to the pain.
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Signs and Symptoms of Pericarditis :
The most common symptom of pericarditis is chest pain. The pain is predominantly felt below the breastbone (sternum) and/or below the ribs on the left side of the chest and, occasionally, in the upper back or neck. Breathing causes the lungs and heart to move in the chest and rub against the irritated pericardium, worsening the pain. Pain may worsen when patients lie down and may improve when they sit up and lean forward. Changes in position can increase or decrease pressure on and irritation of the inflamed pericardium.
Several things that cause pericarditis also cause fluid to accumulate between the pericardium and the heart (pericardial effusion). If enough fluid builds up quickly in this space, it can "compress" the heart's chambers. Through some fairly complex mechanisms, this sometimes leads to shortness of breath (dyspnea). The development of dyspnea is a matter of concern because it may indicate that the amount of fluid is reaching a critical point and requires urgent medical treatment.
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